Wolves have expected interest in Sako, who only has a year left on his contract, all summer.

But apart from speculation linking him to Premier League new boys Leicester, nothing has materialised and the Mali international is set to return to pre-season training as a Wolves player on Wednesday.

The club insist they will only sell the French winger to a top flight club.

Wolves have added 23-year-old Van La Parra from Dutch club Heerenveen to a well-stocked wide roster already including Sako, new signing Tommy Rowe, James Henry and Michael Jacobs as well as youngsters Eusebio Bancessi, Zeli Ismail, who has returned a loan spell at Burton Albion, and Anthony Forde.

Wolves have signed Heerenveen winger Rajiv van La Parra

Ricketts believes Sako will merely inspire his team-mates – new and current – to greater heights as Wolves seek to embark on a promotion challenge in the Championship next season.

“It’s an area where we can’t have too much quality – that’s what you need in the attacking positions,” Ricketts told the Express & Star.

“We’re looking to be as strong as we can within that 20-man squad.

“To have a successful season we need Bakary and he’s one of the best quality players in that 20.

“Whether he pushes others to start or stays in the team, it can only benefit the team.

“That’s the way the club needs to go – we need to have a lot of options going forward, whether they’re starting or coming off the bench.

“We need impact players, and maybe ones that come off the bench with 20 or 30 minutes to go and affect games.”

Ricketts also backed Van La Parra to make an impact in the Championship next season.

“He can play on both sides and the more people we can have in the forward positions, the better,” said the skipper.

“I notice he’s quick from what I’ve seen and no defender likes to play against pace.

“He can cause lots of problems with his pace plus he can get plenty of crosses in and he can finish as well.”

Rhys.wwfc

June 23, 2014 2:26 pm

Stearman was a liability 2 seasons ago, found his level at League 1..we need a better centre back to pair up with Batth, cant see Maguire coming now so KJ will have to look at other options, if we want to go up we have to strengthen that area.

Euro Wolf

1. 'go and effect games! Please learn the difference between affect and effect!

2. MALI! MAIL international!

3. reassure - no hyphen!

4. Missing speech marks at the end of several sentences!

5. Some commas in the wrong place.

6. van La Parra! Small v in his name.

"... the more people we can have in the forward positions, the better," said the skipper. Aaaarrggghhhh! Two bad commas. First one does not flow and the second should be a full stop as the skipper's sentence ends!

old golds worth more

June 23, 2014 6:13 pm

Well if the Grammar and spelling Police are having a go, I will get my two cents worth in as well! The E & S missed out the word "from" when reporting about Zeli Ismail. Quote - "who has returned a loan spell at Burton Albion, and Anthony Forde".

I have read your number 2. point, MALI! MAIL international! and confess to either missing something, or not understanding the point you are making! He (Sako) is a Mali (its a country you know) player, so where does the word "MAIL" come into things?

Oh! I know before anyone says something, I have more than likely got a few words that I have spelt with a Capital Letter that shouldn't have been....lol.

Woody

I still believe Sako will be a Wolves player when the season begins and think it's unlikely that a Premier league team will take a punt on him unless they're getting desperate with time running out.

Sako is a good player but, at the moment, too inconsistent. He could eventually be a great player if he can cut out more of the mistakes that threaten to undo the good stuff we know he's well capable of, but the fact he has just spent a season in League One is indicative of his game at the moment. But he does work harder now, and tracks back to defend a lot more since KJ arrived so I will be happy to see him here next season.